'My attorney and I are evaluating which options we are going to take,' former West Melbourne police chief Brian Lock told FLORIDA TODAY on Friday.

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The West Melbourne City Council was justified in firing former police chief Brian Lock last year, regardless of whether some council members based their decision, in part, on political differences with the chief, a federal judge has ruled.

District Judge Charlene Honeywell dismissed Lock's federal claims against the city while also acknowledging that Lock's accusation - that he was fired based on political conspiring - falls into a "muddled" area of the law.

The ruling leaves the door open for the ex-chief to pursue claims in state court such as that the city breached his employment ...